Composition for preserving food



llnrrnn STAT S PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM RAbAM, or A STIN, rrnxns.

COMPOSITION FOR PRESERV-ING FOOD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 425,904, dated A ril 15, 1890.

Application filed June 24, '1 89. Serial}? 815,895. (No specimens.)

To all whom may concern.-

lie it known that I, WILLIAM Rnonn, a eiti zen of the United States, and a resident of Austin, in the county of Travis and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Compositions for Preservor gases that have preservative and purifying eiteets upon various substances and surfaces or places exposed to the fumes. It is more especially designed, however, for preserving fruits, vegetables, meats, and other perishable articles.

The composition consists of the following ingredients, combined in about the proportions stated, viz: powdered.sulphur, twelve ounces; nitrate of soda, two ounces; black oxide of manganese, one ounce; sandal-wood, one-half ounce; chlorate of potash, one ounce. These ingredients are to be thoroughly mixed.

In using the above-named composition for preservative purposes one method. which I adopt is as follows: I place the articles or substances to be preserved in an airtight box or receptacle in any suitablcmanner that will expose them to the fumes of the burning composition or gases, and before closing said box place a quantity of the composition in a saucer or any suitable receptacle placcdlon top or elsewhere within the box and ignite the composition. in order that the gases generated thereby may act upon or among the substances to be preserved, and so kill all fungus, germs, parasites, and other matter producing fermentation or decay, the. To do this, the box is closed, and the articles or substances in ii to be Dl'CSCl'VUtl exposed to the action of thcgas or gases for a period oi from six to ten hours, or more. The same treatment may be carried out upon a largerscalo as, for instance, by exposing the articles or substances to be preserved in larger quantities to the action 01' the gases within an airtightrailroad-car or room [or a period of about eight hours, more r less, in either case, however, after the articles or subor other liquids may be purified by it.

ferent watery or liquid, substances may be thus preserved and retain their natural taste, most fruits even holding their natural color and keeping for years. fruits may be successfully dried if previously exposed to the action of the gas generated by the composition for from six to ten hours, more or less. Likewise, groceries infested with vermin or affected with mold may be purified in a few hours by exposing them to said gas or gases. The gas generated by the burning of the composition may also be used for general fumigating purposes, as it is both quick and powerful in its action, and water Goods treated by it will be free, or nearly so, from any penetrating or objectionable odor, which isso great an obj ect-ion, especially in the ease offruits and preserves, where sulphur in large quantities has been used to efiect their preservation.

In my composition I use but a small proportion of sulphur- -that is, relatively to the whole mass of ingredients in the composition-and the other ingredients, which are powerful antiseptios; will have the eifeet of making the sulphurous acid scarcely percep- Peaches and other tiblc, the sa'ntahun or sandahwood having an I important action in this respect. Consequcutly, fruits, for instance, preserved by the gas will retain both their color and flavor, and may be kept fora prolonged period or be shipped thousands of miles without risk of decay.

I am aware that certain of the ingredients in my composition, including sulphur and nitrate of soda, also nitrate of potash, in very dillZcront proportions, however, have before been used for preserving perishable articles 01' substances.

I1 am also aware that not only sulphurnnd 2 I eeaeoa nitrate have been used together for this purpose, but that fragrant barks-sueh as eascarilla-have been used with sulphur in such compounds, and. that sulphur, niter, and a chloride have been used together. Such, therefore, I do not claim.

Having thus described my invention, what- I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters- Patent, is-

The Within-described fumigating' composition for preserving and pm-ifyingpurposes,

the same consisting of sulphur, nitrate of soda, black oxide of manganese, sandal-wood, and chlorate of potash, in orabout the proportions specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

NILLIAHL RADAM. Witnesses:

LOUIS BAGGER, AUGUST PETERSON. 

